Ulysses is one of the titular protagonists in the 2021 Disney+ original film Flora & Ulysses. A squirrel living in the suburban community of Vancouver, Canada, Ulysses originally was a normal squirrel whose tree was accidentally hit by Tootie Tickham's robot, the Ulysses 2000, where he was vacuumed up by the robot, only for Flora to rescue him and name him after the robot. Throughout his life, Flora even taught Ulysses how to be a superhero like Incandesto - a character created by Flora's father, George, teaching him to demonstrate his super powers like what superheroes do, which Miller thought he is a rabid squirrel causing incidents in the suburban community. Despite his size and his reputation, he is also even capable of handling things bigger than his size, making him fulfill his purpose into becoming a real superhero, just as the Buckmans began writing a story about Ulysses inspired by their adventure with him.
Background[]
Ulysses is a squirrel living in Vancouver, Canada. Originally a normal squirrel, Flora Buckman named him after Tootie Tickham’s robot, the Ulysses 2000, in reference to the robot that vacuumed him up. He is shown to be friends with Flora, often making friends with her where she teaches him on how to be a superhero like Incandesto in her father's stories. Over time, Ulysses gains his super powers like superheroes in comic books. In spite of this, Ulysses even became desperate of wanting to return to the forest like what squirrels used to. He is also shown to have a dislike on animal control officers who capture him such as Miller whom he thinks he is a pest across the city. Despite his size, he was able determined enough to put faith in himself and save the day, such as the case when he saved George Buckman from falling off the building during the end of the film. In the aftermath, Ulysses fulfilled his wish he deserved in returning to his natural habitat in the forest.
Role in the film[]
Ulysses is first seen as a normal squirrel on a tree storing nuts on his tree. After Tootie Tickham's robot, the Ulysses 2000, hits the tree where Ulysses the squirrel is standing, the robot vacuums him up and Flora opens the robot, as she finds out that Ulysses is safe after all. Flora then names the squirrel "Ulysses" after the robot that Tootie tried to stop. After putting Ulysses in a box as a safe place for the squirrel, she brings Ulysses home, telling him to stay in the box or her mother Phyllis will mistake the squirrel for a rat, the same thing that happened to Flora's pet hamster. Flora later approaches Ulysses who gives him a bag of nuts and a trail mix for him to feed, just as he tells Ulysses the story of how Alfred T. Slipper gained his alter ego Incandesto, telling Ulysses that he can be inspired by a superhero in the story just before Flora heads down for dinner. As Ulysses starts eating the trail mix, he chases a red piece of M&M where he leaps into the drawer, unawarely causing a mess.
That night, Ulysses goes downstairs and backflips over a roller skate that goes downstairs and then smells an open bag of cheese puffs known as Cheese O just as Ulysses begins snacking on the cheese puffs and interacts with Phyllis' typewriter, as he types in "Squirtel. I am Ulysses. Born anew.", much to Phyllis' worry the next day. Flora then lectures to Ulysses, telling him that what the book Terrible Things Can Happen To You made it clear that hope can get in the way of action and that a true cynic has no luxury for hope and only observation. Flora then realizes that the vacuum robot inspired Ulysses to be a superhero, just as she hands him a bunch of comic books for the squirrel to be inspired by. Flora then tells Ulysses that superheroes can handle anything, explaining that Flora can be Ulysses' sidekick just like when Incandesto had a pet parakeet named "Dolores", just before Flora's neighbor arrives. As Flora's mother finds out about this, Flora warns Ulysses to be careful, especially when he is at home, only for William Spiver to approach her and have a conversation with her at the playground, unaware of Ulysses' unique abilities that no other squirrel can do. Back at home, Ulysses uses George's computer to type so he can demonstrate his skills what no other squirrel can do, as Flora tries to show William about this.
Later, Flora goes into a private conversation with her father, explaining to George about Ulysses trying to demonstrate his unique powers, just before George tells his daughter that life as a comic writer is tough, just before he stops at the Giant Donut Diner - a donut restaurant. As George plans to order an omelette with bacon, Flora plans to order six donuts just before a waitress named Rita is curious to see which creature is inside the box where Flora is protective of the box where Ulysses is hiding just before he is flipped into the air, causing Rita to react in shock upon seeing a squirrel inside the diner. Ulysses leaps into the air to avoid getting squashed, albeit causing a mess at the restaurant, just he lands outside the restaurant where Ulysses lands on the ground like a superhero.
Furthermore after leaving the restaurant, Flora and her father take Ulysses to Dr. Meescham to see if he is fine, which she finds out that there is nothing wrong with the squirrel while Miller who is at the Giant Donut Diner approaches Rita who is worried of a squirrel incident that happened at her restaurant. Just as Flora and her father return home, they kept Ulysses a secret again so Phyllis wouldn't know that there is a squirrel at home, just as Ulysses and Flora spend their good moments together. The next day at the treehouse, Ulysses interacts with a Pop-Tart, just before William approaches Flora, giving her a book from Rilke, which his father would read books by Rilke to him and as Flora recites one of the lines, she tells Ulysses to "flare up like a flame and find his purpose".
The next day, Flora hides Ulysses in her backpack to avoid being seen and as she and William enter to talk to Stanlee who tells them that he is not fond of helping squirrels, only for the two to hear a news report on television about a squirrel-related incident at the Donut Diner. This reminds Flora of Ulysses, planning to get her father for help; just as Flora escapes with Ulysses at George's car, Miller confronts George, telling him to hand over the squirrel, only for Flora, William, and George to escape with Ulysses safe. During dinner, Flora tells Ulysses to stay at the treehouse. Later, Ulysses lands on the chandelier at the kitchen, which falls onto the table and causes a mess at the house, inspiring Phyllis to continue writing her own story. That night, Ulysses continues using Phyllis' typewriter while Flora narrates of a hero who would be determined to meet his goal. Some time later, Flora finds a paper written by Ulysses himself where it says that he must return to his natural habitat. Later, Phyllis approaches Ulysses and is upset, because her last interview was a failure, telling him that he should return to the forest where he lives. He then cheers up Phyllis giving him a piece of M&M for her, while Flora and William are in the woods looking out for Ulysses.
Back at home, Ulysses is enjoying his cheese puffs while Phyllis feels upset that she might divorce with her husband; however, as she hears thunder outside the house, Ulysses follows alongside Phyllis and George to make sure Flora is safe where they find her at the remains of the Splash Rapids water park. After Flora reconciles with her mother while Ulysses stands on Flora's shoulder, Miller suddenly fires a tranquilizer dart on Ulysses, much to George's worry, as Miller tells Flora that Ulysses will be euthanized at the animal control facility. Furthermore, Flora, her family, and William free various animals from the facility by opening their cages, alongside various squirrels, including Ulysses. As George confronts Miller, the former secretly unlocks from Ulysses' cage use a nail clipper to free him, just as Ulysses escapes via tube which George used to help him escape. Having rescued Ulysses, Flora, her family, and William escape together just as Miller attacks George from above, hitting him with darts. Ulysses saves George from falling off the building, impressing the Buckmans and William, much to Miller's surprise.
Having escaped from Miller, Flora, her family, and William bid a farewell to Ulysses, bringing him back to the wild where he belongs. Some time later, Flora, her family, and William later write a story about Ulysses, inspired by the heroic squirrel who saved the Buckmans. Ulysses later strolls across the forest leaping across various trees and as he lands on a branch, he dashes into the city like a superhero, ending the film.
Trivia[]
- At one point, Ulysses is seen interacting with M&Ms, coated candies filled with chocolate. Chocolate in real life is toxic for squirrels.
- Despite Flora & Ulysses being set in Canada, Ulysses closely resembles more of a European red squirrel.
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